“Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I may remember. Involve me and I will understand.” Confucius

"School failed me, and I failed the school. It bored me. The teachers behaved like Feldwebel (sergeants). I wanted to learn what I wanted to know, but they wanted me to learn for the exam...How can a teacher understand youth in such a system. From age twelve, I began to suspect authority and distrust teachers." Albert Einstein

I am lucky to have the opportunity to teach. It has its challenges and some might say those challenges far outnumber the good things. I, however, feel blessed. 

I have been teaching now for about 19 years...maybe more..the experience really should be measured in dog years. In a special education behavior program in Gorham, Maine is where it all started. A few years later I came back to my hometown as an athletic director and ed tech. Eventually, I assisted in creating an alternative program. Five years later I accepted a position as a language arts teacher and a little while later I became the 8th grade team leader. Next, I accepted a different challenge: the transition program. Every challenge so far has been quite an opportunity and certainly this has been the case with MESA.

This year's students are being given the keys to their "educational car." I am trying to make things as student centered possible. Why? After my time spent with Jay Robinson, it felt like a direction worthy of exploration. Then, I was really nudged by two short video clips: this one and this one. (That was what moved me this winter. Best moves? Learned a lot of what not to do. This is what has got me going lately...this and this.)

Currently, I putting most of my class on the MESA calendar. Feel free to go and see what we have done, doing, and will be doing. Any questions? Email me at: jotham.oliver@msad72.org

If you want my "Year One" archive go here